Committee proposes raising ferry embarkation fee to $1, ties revenue to harbor improvements

A committee drafting the Nantucket harbor plan put forward language recommending that the town increase the ferry embarkation fee from the current 50¢ per passenger to $1 and direct the proceeds to harbor improvements.

The recommendation appears in the draft plan’s administrative section and would ask the town to first advance a warrant article at town meeting to adopt the $1 fee, then work with state legislators and other Cape and Island communities to pursue a higher allowable fee through state law if desired. Committee members said the current statute authorizes a $1 maximum; any proposal above that would require legislative change involving multiple communities.

Why it matters: the change would raise local revenue that committee members expect to target to harbor infrastructure, maintenance and related projects. Several members argued that a clear allocation — for example, “allocated to harbor improvements” or “adjacent waterfront property that furthers harbor goals” — is needed to prevent money being used for unrelated town expenses.

Discussion and key points: committee members debated three linked questions: whether to raise the fee at all, whether to seek the statutory maximum now or pursue a larger regional increase later, and how specifically to limit allowable uses of the revenue. One member said the statute currently permits towns to impose up to $1; members noted other island communities have discussed $2 or $2.50, but that increase would require coordinated action across towns and a change in state law. Another member said the overriding concern is not only the amount but ensuring the town receives and can spend the revenue on harbor needs.

Procedure and next steps: committee members directed staff to keep the recommendation in the draft language and to refine the wording about allowable uses (for example, limiting purchases of land to parcels that further harbor objectives or are adjacent to harbor areas). They agreed to include the $1 recommendation in the version of the draft they circulate to responsible and participating parties ahead of a final public forum in mid‑July. Any change to a fee above $1 would require legislative action and additional coordination, the committee agreed.

No formal municipal action to change the fee was taken at the meeting; the committee’s vote was procedural (to include the recommendation in the draft). Final adoption of any fee requires a town‑meeting warrant article and, for increases above the current statutory cap, legislative amendment.